BA Popular Music
Canterbury Christ Church University
About this course
BA (Hons) Popular Music is an undergraduate music degree centred on practical performance, instrumental technique, songwriting, and composition. Core topics include Critical & Analytical Thinking. Students gain hands-on experience through studio recordings, collaborative band performances, and professional client or innovation projects in the second year. The first year introduces foundational skills through Popular Music Making, Performance Skills, Songwriting, Composition & Culture, Band Performance, and Success Modules. The second year progresses to Performance and Content Creation, Performance for Stage, Composing for the Creative Arts, Employability modules, and Interdisciplinary modules. The final year culminates in advanced study via Performance, Recording and Improvisation, Composing for Industry Briefs, Performance Project, and the Creative Arts and Industries Project.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBC IB: 29 Points BTEC: DMM Access to HE: 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits 112 UCAS tariff points.
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What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 78%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 73%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 80%
- Left higher education: 10%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 22 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 25%
- Teaching Professionals: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 35%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 1%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 17%
- London: 23%
- South East: 49%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Popular Music Making
- Performance Skills
- Songwriting, Composition & Culture
- Band Performance
- Success Modules
- Performance and Content Creation
- Performance for Stage
- Composing for the Creative Arts
- Employability modules
- Interdisciplinary modules
- Performance, Recording and Improvisation
- Composing for Industry Briefs
- Performance Project
- Creative Arts and Industries Project
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Popular Music at Canterbury Christ Church University earn?
The median salary is £23,000 after 15 months, £19,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,500 and £29,500. The £23,500 median after five years is £1,000 less than the UK median for Music.
What do graduates of BA Popular Music at Canterbury Christ Church University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Popular Music at Canterbury Christ Church University?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Popular Music at Canterbury Christ Church University?
The typical offer is BBC at A level, or 29 points in the IB. The average entrant had 105 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Popular Music at Canterbury Christ Church University?
80% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.